Off campus apartments: Which are safe/nice? - Page 2

UCFKnight · 10-25-2009, 10:58 PM

I totally agree Seiclan. It's almost criminal if you ask me.

JerseyShoreMom · 10-26-2009, 07:41 AM

seiclan, please keep us updated as to what you find. My D is thinking of moving off campus in the Fall. Now when you say some off-campus leases don't start until August 20th and you pay for the full month of August, can they move in a week or two before school starts for sorority recruitment, etc.?

seiclan · 10-26-2009, 08:11 AM

I have called and spoken to someone in the office of the top 5 complexes that we are looking at. They will not allow early move in's at Northgate, Jefferson Village or The Lofts. The non student apartment complexes don't cater to students so every apartment has a different lease start/stop date. Your daughter will need to camp at a friends during prerecruitment/recruitment. There are MANY girls in her sorority that have ongoing leases at apts and the girls all bunk in together. I am going to visit on Nov. 12 and 13th so if you have any questions for these complexes, let me know and I will ask. BTW, this weekend I spoke with people in the offices of The Lofts, Jefferson Village and Victoria Place and they were all very very helpful. I got a lot of questions answered though the actual rents for apts coming up in July/August is not set in stone yet.

JerseyShoreMom · 10-27-2009, 07:35 PM

Do you know when they will start accepting leases for August 2010?

Our next trip down may not be until February, or May at the latest.

alongwait · 11-01-2009, 09:53 AM

We are looking into the new Sterling Apartments that will be ready in August. They are right on University Blvd and will be the first environmentally friendly complex in the area. It is student housing and looks really nice from the brochure. They also give prices and floorplans in there. Many amenities and shuttle service right there. I will call tomorrow to the main office, as the one on site is not yet open for more info. My guess is pricier than most, but still $2000 a year cheaper than the Towers. D is watching it go up, and I found it by googling Sterling Apartments UCF.

Impackt · 11-01-2009, 11:23 AM

I passed by Sterling's construction site when I was recently in Orlando. It looks REALLY nice so far. I'm thinking that my lease in January will only last until August, so I may be able to consider moving there. I just wonder why the buildings in the front are extremely close to the road. You'd definitely be able to hear cars driving by.

dvm258 · 11-01-2009, 12:13 PM

I've been living in the towers since last year, and I'm looking to make the move off campus for Fall 2010. When I found out about the Sterling apartments, I thought they looked very nice, so I'm definitely going to check them out. Their bedrooms in the $600-650 floorplans look to be a bit small though. They're smaller than the room I have in the Towers right now. (You get a much bigger closet though.) If I wanted to get something that was the size of the room I currently have, I'd have to go for the $675 model.

I also was looking at Jefferson Village, The Edge and Northgate Lakes. I was concerned about safety at Jefferson, but from what I see here, it is ok now. Apparently, they had two armed burglaries in 2007-2008, but they have since upgraded security.

seiclan · 11-01-2009, 04:06 PM

Wow, it took me awhile to locate the website of that new apt. complex. Here it is:

UCF Apartments | Rent Apartments near UCF - Sterling University Central

I am not impressed based on the website. The place looks overpriced and underwelming. The rates that the site gives are for Unfurnished apt. with tiny bedrooms (most are 9X10). The whole "green" issue is way too PC for my tastes. When I read that a complex has special "green" plumbing system I can't help but think that means that you will need two flushes per visit and a really heavy duty plunger! I will look into it further in a few weeks when I go visit.

alongwait · 11-01-2009, 04:16 PM

LOL seiclan!! Too funny!!
I am going over there tomorrow. I called this afternoon and spoke to someone on site. They said they will be beginning to take deposits starting tomorrow and expect people to be camped out due to the high volume of calls they have gotten in the last month or so. I find that hard to believe, but you never know. I am 30 minutes away, so will walk thru or see a model. While I am there, will also stop in at Jefferson Village and Victoria. Will post my impressions. It's nice to have the option of the Towers available, but when I see the price differential it is definitely worth a look at these other possibilites. If D is moving off campus, I want to make a decision before the fall housing opens up, which is soon.

seiclan · 11-01-2009, 05:03 PM

I cannot believe that, although new, this complex (Sterling) will fill up that quickly. It is very expensive for "college housing".

I am looking forward to everyone's feedback.

dvm258 · 11-02-2009, 01:31 AM

They have a model available? Sterling still looks like it's still well into construction from Alafaya Trail. Maybe some building in the back is finished? Nevertheless, I'll probably check it out tomorrow as well.

alongwait · 11-02-2009, 06:07 AM

Not sure if there is a model available yet. They told me the apartments should be finished in May but are not leasing until August. They are just starting the deposit process and have a trailer for that on the premises. I just don't like the small room sizes from the brochure.

JerseyShoreMom · 11-02-2009, 07:32 AM

What is the difference between the A and B models of Northgate Lakes? Is it the size of the bedrooms and/or one has a balcony and the other doesn't?

JerseyShoreMom · 11-02-2009, 07:41 AM

What are the rates at the Lofts? I click on the links and it just shows the floorplan:

Student Housing - The Loftsby Allen & O’Hara

seiclan · 11-02-2009, 11:57 AM

I spoke to someone from the Lofts. The rates (for their individual leases/furnished apts) are/were: $629 for 2/2, $609 for a 3/3 (has no loft), and a 4/4 costs $574 for the downstairs bedrooms, $588 and $614 for the upstairs bedrooms. There is also a $120/month utilities cap (which most kids go over about $10/mo each). They have a $250 move in fee and a $50 application fee (which may be waived during specials). The lease runs from Aug. 21-July 31. Internet and cable TV are included in the rent. If you want a reserved parking spot it is $10/month for open or $20/month for covered. The UCF shuttle comes by every 20 minutes from 7 am- 9 pm, Monday to Friday.